CPR Finger Sweep: How to Clear Airway Obstructions

Finger sweep is a technique used during cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) to clear obstructions from a person's airway. it involves using your finger to quickly and carefullys sweep the inside of the person's mouth to remove any visible foreign objects, such as food, vomit or other debris that may be blocking their airway.

Here are the steps for performing a finger sweep:

. Open the person's mouth by gently pulling their lower jaw downwards

. Use your index or middle finger to sweep the inside of their mouth, starting from the back of the throat and moving forward.

. Ensure that you only sweep the inside of the mouth and tongue -avoid touching the back of their throat, as this could trigger gag reflex.

. If you feel or see an obstruction, carefully remove it using your fingers or a pair of tweezers.

. Once the obstruction is removed, resume CPR chest compressions and rescue breaths.

It's important to perform a finger sweep quickly to minimize any delays in administering life-saving CPR. However, if you don't see any visible obstruction during the sweep, do not waste time searching extensively-instead, immediately continue with CPR compressions and rescue breaths.